Houston Astros RBI softball participant Cameron Lavergne has been awarded one of Major League Baseball Charities' college scholarships, valued at $5,000 per year. She becomes one of 12 graduating high school seniors participating in the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, the Major League Baseball youth baseball and softball initiative for young people from underserved communities, to receive the scholarship. <o:p>
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The recipients are receiving the grants through the "RBI for RBI" Scholarship Fund, which was created in 2008 to provide financial support for college-bound student-athletes who were selected based on academic record, demonstrated leadership, participation in school and community activities and financial need. The 2016 class of "RBI for RBI" Scholarship Fund recipients brings the total to more than 100 college scholarships awarded to RBI participants from 36 programs since the fund was established. This year's recipients were recognized at the 2016 RBI World Series in Cincinnati over the last two weeks.<o:p>
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The "RBI for RBI" Scholarships provide each recipient the opportunity to pursue any field of study at a two-year college, four-year college, university or vocational school in the United States or Puerto Rico. The need-based payments of up to $5,000 per year may be renewed for up to three years or until the award recipient has earned his or her training certificate, associate degree or bachelor's degree. The "RBI for RBI" Scholarship Fund is administered and funded by MLB Charities. <o:p>
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Cameron Lavergne finishes high school with a 4.3 weighted GPA and plans to attend Trinity University in San Antonio, TX to major in engineering and play softball. She was voted 'All District' for her high school softball and volleyball teams and was selected for the Impact Player Award through the Houston Astros RBI league. Lavergne was a member of her school's chapter of the National Honor Society and the Trumpet Section Leader in the school's marching band. This is the third consecutive year a participant in Houston Astros RBI has received the RBI for RBI Scholarship and eighth overall. Most significantly, this is the second Lavergne to receive the scholarship as Cameron's brother, Aaron, received it in 2012 as well.<o:p>
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"Cameron has been a member of the Astros Youth Academy since the beginning," said Astros Youth Academy Director Daryl Wade. "We have had the awesome opportunity to watch her grow into a young lady, ballplayer and outstanding student. She works hard both on and off the field but continuously has a smile on her face. This summer, she trained our younger kids participating in the Astros Youth Academy Summer Camp. We are not related, but Cameron recently started calling me 'Uncle Daryl,' a name I will cherish as she moves on to college and becomes a Major League member of society."<o:p>
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ABOUT REVIVING BASEBALL IN INNER CITIES (RBI) <o:p>
The RBI program, which has served approximately 2 million young people since its inception, is the Major League Baseball youth initiative designed to give young people from underserved and diverse communities the opportunity to play baseball and softball, while also encouraging academic achievement and success and teaching the value of teamwork and other important life lessons. RBI currently serves approximately 230,000 young men and women in over 300 programs established in approximately 200 cities worldwide. MLB and its Clubs have designated more than $40 million worth of resources to the RBI program, and all 30 Clubs support RBI leagues. For more information, please visit: MLB.com/rbi. <o:p>
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